Class Size

When I think of the La Cañada Unified School District, I think of state Sen. Carol Liu, who began her career as a PTA president and then went on to other elective offices. When I think about our school district I also think of the hundreds of dedicated parents who are now raising the next generation. It's tough to get your bearings when you are in the middle of raising a family. We live in a multicultural society which places pressures on young families. Frankly, the Los Angeles basin is barely sustainable for many young families.

The Student Achievement Guarantee in Education (SAGE) program studied the effect of grades K-3 class size reduction in 80 Wisconsin schools. Achievement results, based on pre-and-post tests using the Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills (CTBS) show that students in class size reduction (CSR) schools consistently outperform students not in a CSR program. Overall, CSR first graders showed a 25-30 percent higher level of academic achievement than their non-CSR counterparts, and they maintained that gain through third grade.

Although there has been some headway made on class-size reduction within the La Cañada public school system in recent years, school board president Scott Tracy said this week he is troubled by the fact that comparable school districts are showing better numbers. The La Cañada Unified School District Governing Board held a workshop Tuesday evening to discuss the matter. With only a few parents in attendance, Jim Stratton, superintendent of schools, reviewed research findings from several program studies and reported the data shows reduced class sizes lead to greater student success rates.

The La Cañada Unified School Board has recently identified its three top-priority strategic goals. These are goals that require considerable time and effort from District staff to research and identify options with implementation steps, appropriate benchmarks and accountability. The Board's first strategic goal, which has the highest priority, is to continue to research, plan, and implement comprehensive incremental class size reduction in grades 4-12. As background, initial fact-finding revealed that peer high schools had considerably smaller classes than LCHS, even after our reinstatement of the State-subsidized ninth-grade class size reduction program effective September 2006.

The La Cañada Unified School District’s governing board meeting on Tuesday began with a workshop on class size reduction. Superintendent Jim Stratton shared a Power Point presentation on the importance of having smaller classrooms and a proposed parcel tax to gain the funding. The district already has class size reduction in place from kindergarten to third grade and ninth grade English and math classes. The report included research analysis that found in La Cañada district schools reading and math skills improved in smaller kindergarten through third grade classes.

The La Cañada Unified School Board Tuesday approved the elimination of 2.5 permanent teaching positions and 2.2 temporary teaching positions, the latest in a series of cost-cutting measures taken by the district as it tries to manage a $4 million budget shortfall. Three people within the La Cañada district will lose their jobs due to the cuts. One position was vacant. The permanent positions were cut in conjunction with the closure of Foothills School, slated to be shuttered at the end of the school year, said Wendy Sinnette, assistant superintendent for human resources.

Thanks to an improved funding picture, the La Cañada Unified School District recently hired 30 temporary teachers, Supt. Wendy Sinnette reported at Tuesday's school board meeting. The improved funding outlook is due to three things, she reported. The first is that enrollment registration numbers are up for the coming school year. The second involves a gift of $1.1 million from the La Cañada Flintridge Educational Foundation. And a third involves an additional $900,000 in parent contributions earmarked for class-size reduction.

I was in a pickle. As I took my seat for dinner and stared at what appeared to be a delicious salad, I noticed that I had three forks. "Hmm," I thought, "which one do I use?" I defer questions of etiquette to Kaitzer, but she was chatting with fellow Hoover High School alums, Christina and Dean Oakley. I surely wasn't going to ask my go-to guy Mike Riley. Ah! I'll ask Lisa Durkin! She'll know. She's French. Last Saturday night La Cañada came together at the 16th annual LCF Educational Foundation Spring Gala at the Ritz-Carlton Huntington Hotel to raise money for the La Cañada Unified School District.

It is the hottest fund-raising event in La Cañada, and it's right around the corner! The annual LCFEF Gala is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 24 at the Ritz-Carlton Huntington Hotel in Pasadena. It is sold out, with 705 people from La Cañada ready to mingle, dance, and raise money for the best cause in our community -- our schools! This year, four lads with mop top haircuts and thin black ties will be rocking the Gala, providing a rollercoaster ride of classic Beatles hits, "Love Me Do" to "Let It Be."

As the deadline for budget submission approaches for county schools, the La Cañada Unified School District Governing Board approved Tuesday night the 2007-2008 Projected Budget of $34.6 million and the 2007-2008 Estimated Actuals, despite the fact the California legislature has not yet approved the state budget. The LCUSD Board must submit its budget at a set date regardless of the state budget's finality, leaving it in an uncomfortable position. The board will also have $734,000 rolling over from last year's budget.

La Cañada Unified school board members Tuesday approved the elimination of 18 employee positions while simultaneously outlining plans to restore them with money generated through community fundraising efforts. With member Joel Peterson absent, the board voted 4-0 to lay off one permanent physical education teacher and to released 18 temporary teachers who collectively are filling the equivalent of 16 full-time positions. They also did away with a classified support staff position at La Cañada High School that is currently vacant.

Thanks to an improved funding picture, the La Cañada Unified School District recently hired 30 temporary teachers, Supt. Wendy Sinnette reported at Tuesday's school board meeting. The improved funding outlook is due to three things, she reported. The first is that enrollment registration numbers are up for the coming school year. The second involves a gift of $1.1 million from the La Cañada Flintridge Educational Foundation. And a third involves an additional $900,000 in parent contributions earmarked for class-size reduction.

There’s only one thing that will reduce class sizes, prevent teacher layoffs and bring aides back to kindergarten classes throughout La Cañada Unified School District — money. That was the predominant message of a town hall meeting Wednesday night organized by the La Cañada Flintridge Educational Foundation, which asked local school families to look deep into their hearts and pocketbooks to help make up for the nearly $5 million annually the district will lose as the result of continued spending cuts at the state level.

It became clear that cutbacks may be in the La Cañada Unified School District’s near future on Tuesday night, as the Governing Board discussed the second interim financial report and the possibility of laying off teachers and increasing class sizes significantly in the primary grades. A total of 15 district staff members — six full-time employees and nine temporary positions — will have to come off the books if the district wants to remain solvent for the next two years, according to a budget scenario provided by Stephen Hodgson, LCUSD's financial consultant.

When I think of the La Cañada Unified School District, I think of state Sen. Carol Liu, who began her career as a PTA president and then went on to other elective offices. When I think about our school district I also think of the hundreds of dedicated parents who are now raising the next generation. It's tough to get your bearings when you are in the middle of raising a family. We live in a multicultural society which places pressures on young families. Frankly, the Los Angeles basin is barely sustainable for many young families.

We moved to La Cañada in the summer of '09 not only because we wanted our children to attend the schools, but to also be part of this great La Cañada community. Now in our second year in LCUSD, we are appalled to see 24 kids in the classroom of our first-grader. We are extremely concerned about the impact on the learning environment. If classrooms are crowded, supplies are unavailable and teachers are overworked, how can the district continue to provide the best for our students?

John Petersen and his family moved to La Cañada five years ago. He came here, primarily because of the city's great schools. But today he's concerned about those schools, and with the growing class sizes within the La Cañada Unified School District. Petersen has two children attending Palm Crest Elementary, a first- and third-grader, and another who will enter kindergarten next fall. Two years ago, his eldest child was one of 18 students in a first-grade class that was led by a teacher assisted by an aide.

CLASSES Beginning Bridge — Tuesdays, beginning Sept. 7, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The Community Center of La Cañada Flintridge, 4469 Chevy Chase Drive, offers Beginning Bridge to adults and seniors. Taught by a seasoned bridge player, Beginning Bridge offers an opportunity to those who are interested in joining a bridge group but who may not have the skills or confidence to do so. Lessons are $5 per person. Call the Community Center at (818) 790-4353 to reserve your spot or just show up. Square dancing — Thursdays, beginning Sept.

Neighbors of Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy must have known to ignore the screams coming from the school on Monday morning. It was just the sound of a few hundred girls getting reacquainted for the first time since school was dismissed for the summer. "When the girls come there will be a lot more activity and noise here with all the enthusiasm of girls seeing their friends for the first time in a few months," said Margaret Kean, the school's chief development officer. Sacred Heart started the 2010-11 school year on Monday with a student body that is marginally larger than last year's, with approximately 400 students, including a freshman class of more than 100 girls.